Ginkgo tree named ‘Golden Globe’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Ginkgo tree named ‘Golden Globe’, characterized by its globose and rounded plant shape; very freely branching, high branching density; rapid growth rate; and bright yellow-colored leaves in the autumn.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ginkgotree, botanically known as Ginkgo biloba, and hereinafter referred to bythe name ‘Golden Globe’.

The new Ginkgo was discovered by the Inventor in a controlledenvironment in Fort Valley, Ga., during the summer of 1992 as a chanceseedling of two unidentified selections of Ginkgo biloba.

Asexual reproduction of the new Ginkgo by cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Fort Valley, Ga. since 1992, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Ginkgo are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Golden Globe’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength, lightintensity, and water and nutritional status without, however, anyvariance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Golden Globe’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Golden Globe’ as a new and distinct Ginkgo:

1. Globose and rounded plant shape.

2. Very freely branching, high branching density.

3. Rapid growth rate.

4. Bright yellow-colored leaves in the autumn.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Fort Valley,Ga., trees of the new Ginkgo differ from trees of other Gingko cultivarsknown to the Inventor primarily in plant shape and branching density.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Ginkgo, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Ginkgo.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical tree of ‘Golden Globe’, 30 years old during the autumn.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical treeof ‘Golden Globe’ during the winter showing the branching density.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe trees grown in Fort Valley, Ga., undercommercial practice in a outdoor field nursery. Trees measured wereabout 6 years from planting.

Botanical classification: Ginkgo biloba cultivar Golden Globe.

Parentage: Seedling of two unidentified selections of Ginkgo biloba, notpatented.

Propagation:

Type.—Softwood cuttings.

Time to develop roots.—About 18 months are required before young plantsare planted into a field nursery.

Root description.—Fleshy, coarse.

Plant description:

Plant form.—Upright, globose and rounded tree.

Branching habit.—Freely branching, dense; about 18 secondary branchesfrom the first five scaffold branches; and about 7.8 branches per 50 cmof stem length. Angle of attachment, about 38° from vertical. Excellentstem strength.

Growth rate.—About 30 to 60 cm per year.

Plant height.—About 3.35 meters.

Plant width.—About 3.37 meters.

Stem color.—First year shoots, 199B; older woody stems, gray, close to198B.

Trunk texture.—Ridged and furrowed.

Winter leaf buds.—Imbricate often acute and brownish in color.

Leaves.—Arrangement: Simple, alternate. Length: About 9.5 cm. Width:About 9.9 cm. Shape: Fan-shaped to obcordate. Apex: Rounded. Base:Cuneate. Margin: Entire or emarginate; undulate. Texture: Glabrous;rough. Petiole length: About 5.6 cm. Petiole diameter: About 1.5 mm.Color: Young leaves, upper surface: 138A. Young leaves, lower surface:138A. Mature leaves, upper surface: 143A; autumn color, 13A. Matureleaves, lower surface: 139B. Petiole: 141C.

Reproductive structures description:

Habit.—Only male structures observed. Single reproductive structures,male, catkin-like. Not fragrant. Not persistent.

Natural maturation season.—Male reproductive structures mature in lateMarch to early April in Fort Valley, Ga.

Size.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.

Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

Disease resistance: Resistance to pathogens common to Ginkgo has notbeen determined.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ginkgo tree named‘Golden Globe’, as illustrated and described.